By: David Bello Brewer, Contributing Writer
It’s finally strawberry season in Florida, and that means there are plenty of tasty plates to be made.
Strawberries are packed with vitamins, fiber, and high levels of antioxidants. They are also a good source of potassium, manganese, and an excellent choice for a low-calorie snack. There’s nothing like having fresh fruit and transforming it into tasty recipes. To celebrate the strawberry season, here are some quick and easy recipes.
Strawberry Eton Mess
Strawberry Eton mess is a classic British dessert made of whipped cream, whole berries, strawberries, and meringues.
For this recipe, you will need:
- one pound of strawberries sliced into thirds
- ⅓ cup of sugar
- one cup of heavy cream
- and 2.5 ounces of store-bought meringues.
The preparation is easy, and it should take less than an hour. In small heatproof cup, toss half of the sliced berries with sugar, tightly cover them with plastic wrap, and set them in the middle of a saucepan with simmering water. Let them sit until their juices are accumulated in the bowl. Let them cool and repeat the same steps with the remaining sliced berries. Place some whip cream in a small bowl and layer with meringues, cream, and strawberry mixture. Chill for 20 minutes and top with whole strawberries to serve.
Strawberry Coffee Cake Muffins
Strawberry coffee cake muffins are the perfect sweet to go with a hot cup of coffee for a delicious breakfast.
You will need:
- ¼ cup butter, softened
- ¾ cup sugar
- one egg
- one teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 ½ cup flour
- two teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup milk
- and 1 ½ cup of sliced strawberries
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a 12-count muffin pan with cupcake papers. In a mixer, cream the butter and sugar, then add the egg, vanilla, and lemon zest. In a mixing bowl, stir the baking powder, flour, salt, and alternate adding the milk and flour mixture in between until the mixture is smooth. Using a medium scoop, add the batter to the muffin pan and top each one with strawberries. Bake the muffins for 20 minutes or until golden.
Strawberry Hummus
Strawberry hummus may sound odd, but it’s a delicious option that you can spread on toast, or even as a dip for sliced fruits.
You will need:
- 15 ounces of garbanzo beans
- two cups fresh strawberries with hulls removed
- three tablespoons raw honey or pure maple syrup
- two tablespoons nut or seed butter
- and one teaspoon vanilla bean powder or extract
Add all ingredients to a food processor and mix until smooth and creamy. Let chill for a couple of hours in the fridge so that the flavors mix.
Strawberry Frozen Yogurt
Strawberry frozen yogurt makes you skip the trip to the store. It satisfies your sweet tooth, and it’s healthy at the same time.
You will need:
- four cups frozen strawberries
- three tablespoons honey
- ½ cup plain yogurt
- and one tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Add strawberries, honey, lemon juice, and yogurt to a food processor and process until creamy. Serve and immediately store it in the freezer.
